Washington: US President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that the Secret Service and military directed him to use a "different plane" when departing Trkiye last month following a NATO summit, citing safety concerns. 'It's only up to the Secret Service. I just follow what they like to do. So, I go by the Secret Service and the military. They wanted me to go in a different flight, a different plane, equal safety,' Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland after returning from the state of Ohio.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump was moved from Air Force One to a smaller military aircraft in a covert operation, while Air Force One continued to fly with White House officials, security personnel, and journalists aboard. The Washington Post reported that the operation was prompted by an alleged assassination threat from Iran and involved Trump being moved from Air Force One through an airport catering vehicle before boarding another aircraft.

The operation took place following Trump's participation in the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8. During the secret plane departure, Trump was exclusively with a small group of close, long-serving personal aides rather than high-level Cabinet officials, according to another report by The Washington Post. A few lower-profile aides were also present, but the group did not include Secretary of State Marco Rubio or other top officials at the highest level of the government, it said.

Other senior administration officials, military personnel, Secret Service, and journalists remained on the Air Force One plane that had been deemed too risky for the president's travel, said the report.